Chess Puzzle #2LQoi — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1008 · Beginner · crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen a8; rooks a1/h1; bishop f1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c4/e2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rook f8; bishops c8/f6; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe4 — queen a8→e4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bxc3+ — bishop f6→c3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies bxc3 (pawn b2→c3, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxe4 — queen e7→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Bxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: Q1b2rk1/p1ppqppp/1p3b2/8/2P5/2N5/PP2PPPP/R3KB1R w KQ - 1 11

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.